Message from the Director General

February 2019

Dear Colleagues,

Happy New Year! Following a most productive 2018, we are excited to kick-off 2019 with determination as we pursue the opportunities that lie ahead of us. As the airport industry continues to adapt its business models to the competitive realities and evolving customer expectations, ACI continues to adapt our service offerings to help our Members succeed in serving their customers and their communities.

Along this line, we will hold two of our key events in the first quarter of the new year. First is the 11^th Annual ACI Airport Economics and Finance Conference and Exhibition, taking place from 12­–14 March 2019 in London, United Kingdom, under the theme “Paradigm shifts in airport business.”

We will explore solutions to meet the ever-evolving aviation market dynamics, changing consumer habits and digitalization that are increasing competitive pressures upon airports. Along with long-term demand trends, these competitive pressures have far-reaching implications for economic regulation, airport slot allocation, commercial revenue generation, route development and infrastructure financing.

Through sessions, presentations, live interviews and panel discussions, investment experts, industry leaders and top-level decision makers and influencers will cover pertinent topics such as:

• Economic regulation in the era of airline consolidation and airport competition
• The changing dynamics of airport commercial revenues
• The fork in the road on Brexit eve; Where do we go from here?
• Roadmaps to manage scarce capacity; The economics and politics of slots
• Competing for passengers; Route development and incentives
• Risky business; Crafting the concessions agreement in foreign lands

We continue our successful pre-conference collaboration with the World Bank which will open with the 5th Annual ACI-World Bank Aviation Symposium to detail the risks and opportunities of global lenders and investors in the airport industry. Participants can expect valuable analyses of global and regional economic forces that airport executives and investors need to understand.

And, the following month brings our largest event, the ACI Asia-Pacific/World Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition, taking place from 2–4 April 2019 in Hong Kong, where we will explore “What’s next for aviation? The future starts now.”  

In addition to the two important general assemblies, for Asia-Pacific members and all ACI members, the conference broadens the conversation beyond economics to all emerging developments that will affect airports. We will explore the future to foster a creative and innovating platform for the exchange of knowledge and the exploration of solutions to some of the most pressing issues of the field. Topics, delivered in various dynamic formats, will include:

• Leaders’ forum; It’s all about capacity
• A new era in aircraft operations; From urban air mobility and drones to supersonics
• The customer experience revolution
• The NEXTT (new experience in travel technologies) generation
• Innovation in security; leveraging robust and agile screening solutions

The formal conference is preceded by a series of workshops where more depth can be provided on key topics of environment, human resources, forecasting, cargo and slots. It is fitting that the conference will be hosted by Hong Kong International Airport, home to one of the most important and ambitious runway projects of our time, and in the Region that has some of the world’s most dynamic cities and fastest growing economies. With contributions from aviation stakeholders from all regions, the Conference promises to define how airports are anticipating, adapting and creating change so that they can continue to be economic and social engines, connecting people, culture and commerce.

The world’s airports are complex businesses that will design a way forward amidst an ever-evolving landscape. Our upcoming events will support the dedication and commitment of our members to thrive in a changing environment to deliver a safe, secure, and sustainable airport system. We look forward to seeing you.